The overwhelming majority secures Rwandan President Kagame's fourth term.
The overwhelming majority secures Rwandan President Kagame's fourth term.
TrendingGist Blog conveys a report that over nine million Rwandans wwho were registered to vote, including about two million first-time voters, with the presidential election coinciding with legislative elections for the first time.
TrendingGist Blog also reports that Kagame has consistently secured over 93 per cent of the vote in previous elections in 2003, 2010, and 2017. He has implemented controversial constitutional amendments to reduce presidential terms from seven to five years, resetting the clock to potentially extend his rule until 2034.
Also, recall that Rwandan courts have upheld convictions disqualifying prominent opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire from running. Additionally, the election commission barred outspoken Kagame critic Diane Rwigara, citing paperwork issues.
Amnesty International highlighted the severe restrictions faced by Rwanda’s political opposition, including threats, arbitrary detentions, prosecutions, trumped-up charges, killings, and enforced disappearances.
During the three-week campaign, the RPF’s powerful PR machine dominated, with the party’s red, white, and blue colors and slogans like “Tora Kagame Paul” (“Vote Paul Kagame”) and “PK24” (“Paul Kagame 2024”) visible everywhere. In contrast, Kagame’s rivals struggled to attract significant support, with some events drawing fewer than 100 attendees.
Kagame’s RPF is credited with ending the 1994 genocide and leading Rwanda to significant economic recovery, with GDP growing by an average of 7.2 per cent annually from 2012 to 2022. However, the World Bank reports that nearly half the population lives on less than $2.15 a day.
Internationally, Kagame’s administration faces accusations of meddling in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with UN reports alleging Rwandan troops’ involvement with M23 rebels.
In the parliamentary elections, 589 candidates vied for 80 seats, with 53 elected by universal suffrage. The RPF held 40 seats in the outgoing assembly, with allies holding 11 and Habineza’s party having two. An additional 27 seats are reserved for women, youth, and people with disabilities.